6 Choreography Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Lynne Anne Blom and L. Tarin Chaplin draw on decades of dance expertise to explore choreography from its simplest components to its most abstract artistic forms. You’ll navigate foundational elements like time, space, and force before tackling advanced topics such as compositional structures and choreographic devices. The authors encourage learning through improvisation, blending theory with physical practice exercises that spark creativity and personal expression. If you’re a serious dance student, a professional choreographer, or an educator seeking fresh classroom approaches, this book offers a structured yet inspiring way to deepen your understanding and craft.

What started as Jonathan Burrows' personal exploration of dance-making evolved into a thoughtful guide for navigating choreography's complexities. He draws from five years of workshop discussions to offer meditations, exercises, and paradoxes that reveal how to engage with your body's patterns creatively. You'll gain insights into developing your aesthetic process, including when and how to challenge established rules, making it relevant whether you're a novice or experienced dance-maker. Burrows writes candidly, inviting you to reflect on your practice and embrace choreography as a negotiation rather than a fixed formula. This book suits anyone curious about crafting performance across styles and experience levels.

This personalized book offers a tailored exploration of choreography foundations and creative methods designed to match your background and goals. It examines core elements such as movement dynamics, compositional techniques, and storytelling through dance while addressing your specific interests. By focusing on your unique learning path, it reveals how to integrate improvisation and performance nuances effectively. Covering both fundamental principles and creative development, this tailored guide navigates the complexities of choreography in a way that resonates with your experience. It unlocks a deeper understanding of dance construction and expression, making the learning process both engaging and relevant to your personal artistic journey.

Linda Sabo's decades of experience shaping musical theatre education led to this insightful exploration of choreography as a distinct art form. You gain a deep understanding of how choreography serves the script and advances storytelling, with reflections on analyzing librettos and scores to craft movement that embodies character and plot. The author's own anecdotes and suggested assignments enrich your grasp of the unique challenges and creative processes in staging musicals. If you aim to refine your artistic approach to theatre dance or want to teach choreography with a strong narrative focus, this book offers a thoughtful perspective grounded in real-world practice.

What if everything you knew about developing choreography was challenged? Kate Flatt draws on over forty years of international experience across dance, theatre, and opera to explore choreography as a dynamic art form blending movement, music, and space. You’ll find detailed chapters on improvisation, stage geometry, and structuring pieces from solos to groups, offering practical frameworks that cultivate your creative confidence and choreographic eye. This book suits dancers and aspiring choreographers eager to deepen their ability to express and articulate ideas through performance, with clear explanations that bridge artistic insight and hands-on practice.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a dancer and choreographer closely linked to John Cranko’s legacy, Ashley Killar offers an intimate exploration of Cranko’s life and artistry. You’ll gain a nuanced understanding of Cranko’s influence on ballet through vivid accounts of his collaborations, creative breakthroughs, and leadership at the Stuttgart Ballet. The book delves into lesser-known works alongside his famous story ballets, enriched by personal letters and rare photographs that bring depth to Cranko's personality and challenges. If you’re invested in ballet history or choreography’s evolution, this biography provides both detailed context and fresh perspectives that go beyond typical dance narratives.

This tailored book explores rapid skill development in choreography, focusing on your unique background and goals. It covers a variety of methods to enhance creative movement and composition, emphasizing hands-on practice designed to accelerate your choreographic abilities. The content carefully matches your interests and experience level, providing a step-by-step plan that bridges foundational concepts with advanced techniques in dance creation and staging. By addressing your specific goals, this book reveals how to build choreography skills efficiently through targeted exercises and creative exploration. Its personalized approach ensures you engage with relevant material that deepens your understanding while honing your artistic expression within a practical 30-day timeframe.

Drawing from their extensive academic backgrounds in dance studies and theory, Jo Butterworth and Liesbeth Wildschut compiled this critical reader to chart the evolving landscape of contemporary choreography. You’ll explore a diverse collection of essays that dissect choreographic enquiry, creative processes, and the intersection of dance with technology and culture. Specific chapters dive into dance dramaturgy and intercultural contexts, offering nuanced perspectives that challenge conventional aesthetics. This book suits those seeking a deep theoretical framework as well as practical insights into twenty-first-century dance making, especially scholars and practitioners looking to expand their understanding of choreography's multifaceted nature.